Sarasota hired retail expert Robert Gibbs to conduct a market study on the region in anticipation of the new Taubman Centers mall on University Parkway opening in October. Gibbs studied four areas—Downtown Sarasota, St. Armands Circle, the Rosemary District and the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Corridor—and found all areas should be able to stay commerically healthy. In fact, the areas could potentially absorb 250,000 square feet of commercial space right now, even accounting for the mall. In the next five years, the region could absorb more than 300,000 square feet. 

Plans are still moving forward with varied plans to turn the Sarasota Bayfront into a cultural mecca, but the words "conference center" will not be found following direction from Sarasota City Commissioners. 

Michael Klauber, chairman of Visit Sarasota County, said he was satisfied by city direction to make City Manager Tom Barwin the official liaison between City Hall and the Sarasota Bayfront 20:20 effort, a visioning directive headed by tourism leaders. "The direction we got was very positive and it keeps us going in the same direction we are already going." 

Sarasota City Commissioners voted 3-2 last week to have City Hall work closely with the 20:20 group, with direction to the group not to plan on having a conference center planned on public property and not to have the Bayfront view impeded by any project. Commissioners Paul Caragiulo and Suzanne Atwell voted against the measure, fearful that putting such specific directives would hinder the visioning process at an early stage. "I don't want to get into the position of saying we don't want this," Caragiulo said. "I don't want to draw a circle that small. I want to have a conversation about what the community wants to see. That's the whole purpose."

While the 20:20 plan moves ahead, another development group's Bayfront Now proposals also continue to evolve. Plans provided to SRQ last week (pictured) seem to take the city directives into account to a significant degree, with a community park planned on city land on the waterfront. And on property where previous iterations of the Bayfront Now plan once had a conference center, there is now an "education/meeting center" attached both to a Mote Marine aquarium and to a proposed hotel. "The proven way to make meeting/education/conference centers work is to have the connected hotel operator responsible for the operation," said Chris Gallagher, a partner at Hoyt Architects and part of the Bayfront Now effort. "When coupled with an operator such as Marriott Hotels, they have significant worldwide marketing and group business experience."

Commissioner Susan Chapman said she was concerned that she understood from a presentation by Bayfront Now at a meeting earlier this month that the initial financing of the conference center would be based on the security of the city owned land. That created too much financial risk for the city, she said. "There is the potential that if these projects don't make money we could lose out on our security," Chapman said.

Gallagher, though, said the hotel would be the one taking any risk with a center. "Since having a facility like this is a benefit to the hotelier, they take on the responsibility for all operating costs of the conference center."

While the two Bayfront efforts have been characterized as times as competing visions, Klauber said Bayfront Now leaders, including Chris Cogan of Seven Holdings Group, have attended Bayfront 20:20 meetings. Atwell said last week she has encouraged the groups to work together.

A number of other partners have to be in the mix for any plan to work though, Klauber noted, including Mote Marine, the Sarasota Orchestra and the Sarasota Ballet. That was largely why Klauber was unconcerned with taking conference center talks off the table for now, even though tourism officials have clamored for years for a center near the Bayfront. "It's way too soon to get into the specifics of those kinds of things," he said.

Of note, the Bayfront Now group has stressed a desire to move more quickly on getting development going and bringing any final vision to the forefront. But Klauber said the effort can't move faster than Bayfront 20:20 is going. 

With the University Town Center Mall set to open in mid-October, Sarasota shoppers have waited long enough for the unveiling of the retailers they can expect to find inside.

Among the first announced were “anchors” in the new mall, department stores Macy’s, Dillards and Saks. Joining them will be an array of diverse stores—from charming boutiques like Brighton, Vera Bradley and Kate Spade, to retail giants Forever 21, Anthropologie and H&M.

Jewelry stores will be in abundance as well, as five retailers catering specifically to fine jewelry and gifts are to open in UTC, most notably, Swarovski. Brooks Brothers and Crate and Barrel were surprising additions to the mall, as each caters to a specific niche of consumers, but will likely fare well amongst shoppers looking for a home-style feel to their shopping experience.

The mall also introduces a few oddities to the shopping mix, including Moleskin, Papyrus, Everything But Water and The Art of Shaving.

What may be the most anticipated store opening at UTC, however, is the inclusion of the Apple Store. The closest location in Tampa or Brandon, the Apple Store at the University Town Center Mall is adept to handle all of Sarasota’s Apple product-related needs.

As for dining at UTC, the Cheesecake Factory is a welcome addition, along with Yo Sushi, Godiva, Rise Pies, and three family-style grill and bar establishments.

The new University Town Center Mall is set to become one of Sarasota’s most desired destinations, and could help local businesses grow with the increased traffic and tourism it brings with it. Ian Black, of Sarasota’s Ian Black Real Estate, foresees the new mall will not place pressure on nearby retailers, as some have predicted. Instead, he says, it will only strengthen their consumer base where all retailers can benefit from increased traffic to the area. 

“It’s a great economic boost for the entire area,” he says. “A real rising tide for the boat [of consumerism]. I think the community and all retail locations will benefit from it.”

The University Town Center Mall will host its Grand Opening October 16. 

Manatee County Commission: The board meets Tuesday to discuss a number of fees and bond issues involving utilities, public safety and other matters. The meeting begins at 9am at the Manatee County Administrative Center in Bradenton. 

Venice City Council

Following two days of review of the proposed fiscal year 2014-2015 budget, the City Commission unanimously set the preliminary operating millage rate at 3.1728 mills.  This is the same millage rate as last year. The proposed 2014-15 total budget is $198 million – a three percent increase from the current budget.  The increase is due primarily to projected increases in retiree medical claims and planned spending in several revenue funds, including the Community Redevelopment Agency. 

Sarasota County Government

Berlin Patten PLLC has announced the addition of Tami Dalgaard to the firm’s closing team. Tami becomes the fifth closer in the firm’s expanding real estate department. Dalgaard has extensive closing experience, having served as a real estate paralegal at Dunlap & Moran, P.A. and at Berntsson, Ittersagen, Gunderson, Waksler & Wideikis, P.A. in Port Charlotte for over ten years.  

Berlin Patten

Neal Signature Homes broke ground on its newest, exclusive community, Wildgrass in Sarasota County, and is completing development now. Located off Clark Road, just east of I75, Wildgrass is comprised of 36 acres, which will offer 47 select homesites in a natural setting with a gated entrance. Homeowners will have six floorplans to choose from ranging in size from 2,266 – 3,346 square feet. The community will have a Mediterranean theme with one and two story floorplans to choose from. Presales will begin in September and the model center will open in January 2015. 

Neal Signature Homes

Join SRQ | The Magazine on Wednesday, August 6, from 11:30am-1pm at the world-renowned IMG Academy Golf Club in Bradenton. Leaders in local education, Allen Carlson, President and CEO of Sun Hydraulics, Mary Glass, Executive Director of the Manatee Education Foundation, Jeff Hazelton, President and Chief Technology Officer of BioLucid, Jan Pullen, Saint Stephen’s Head of School, and Susan Scott, Executive Director of the Education Foundation of Sarasota County, will take part in a dynamic panel discussion sharing their insights on the private and public challenges associated with the region’s business community. Symposium tickets are $35/person and include plated lunch. 

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